Press Release

Patients past and present will share their experiences at June 28 event

Archived.This is an older press release from 2013 and may not contain the latest information. Please view our current press releases for 2017 items.

MARTINEZ - Suinitila Taufa is thankful, despite her second diagnosis of breast cancer in five years, and she wants to talk about it.

"I want to thank the doctors, nurses, anyone who knows me," Taufa said. "They all encourage me. I think I owe it to them to say thank you."

Her treatment shows promise, she says. But mostly she wants to talk about friends, family and life. That is why she plans to attend "Celebrate Life," an event on June 28 at which anyone who beat cancer - or who intends to do so - can talk about what matters most to them.

The annual celebration, organized by the Cancer Center at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, unites former patients with the health care team that battled cancer with them, newly diagnosed survivors just learning to cope, and family and friends learning to care for a loved one with the disease.

"Celebrate Life" provides an opportunity for survivors to talk and listen, draw support and receive advice from others who share similar experience.

"Meet people. Go to the gym," said Siosiana Falekakala, whose battle against stomach cancer began last November. "I learned that you don't sit in bed, feeling sorry for yourself. You have to walk, keep busy. You can live a long time, but you have to fight."

Falekakala, who visits CCMRC for chemotherapy, plans to attend.

Festivities include music, games, a gift-basket raffle for survivors, and an exhibition from our Art of Health & Healing group that showcases how crafts can be part of healing.

WHAT:

"Celebrate Life," an event to honor cancer survivors and their loved ones